CSUN Students Should Invest in Sports Program

The student body at Cal State Northridge is faced this week with a major decision. A “yes” vote on a student activity fee increase of $27 a semester will maintain the existing 18 NCAA Division I sports offered at the university, while a “no” vote will force the university to drop existing sports.

At stake is not only the football program and the addition of women’s soccer, but the opportunity to compete for the student athletes who have already chosen to participate in college athletics at Northridge, the opportunity for Northridge students to attend college sporting events and the opportunity for Northridge to be known as having a broad-based and diverse athletic program.

The failure of this referendum would negatively impact the remaining sports and student athletes. Dropping the football program would not solve the problem. Failure of the fee increase would keep women’s soccer from being added to the current 18 sports and could result in men’s soccer being dropped. Failure of this fee increase would mean fewer opportunities for all, not greater opportunity for everyone.

It is difficult to compare “big-time” college football to what officials at CSUN have done in order to maintain the sport. Some say it is like comparing apples to oranges. I believe it’s like comparing grapes to grapefruit.

Each year Northridge has between 75 and 100 young men show up to be part of a program that has fewer than 20 scholarships. Why? I believe it is for the opportunity to participate in a sport they enjoy while they pursue a college degree.

Northridge has not claimed that football generates large revenues for the university, only that some of the revenues that are generated will decrease if football does not continue. I know this from conversations with sponsors and donors.

With the exception of commencement and the appearance of President Clinton in January, attendance at no campus event approaches that of a home football game. I believe in football as a spectator sport and it is successful at Northridge, bringing students, alumni and community members together at the university.

Maintaining a broad-based program is the goal of administrators who oversee athletics at CSUN. Those responsible for student activity fees are asking their peers to consider an increase of $27 per semester, bringing the total to $31 per semester from students in support of a student activity.

I believe it is a good investment that will provide more opportunities and continue to provide the best and most options for the student body.

PAUL A. BUBB

Northridge

Bubb is associate athletic director at Cal State Northridge.